Ons Jabeur says pressure will help 'realise dream of entire continent' prior to French Open bid - The Power of Sport
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ByEurosport
Updated 25/05/2023 at 10:55 GMT
Ons Jabeur will soon begin her bid for French Open glory after reaching two Grand Slam finals last year, but losing both. The Tunisian is aiming to become the first Arab and African woman to win a major tournament and talking to The Power of Sport, says she will channel the pressure on her to try and win. Jabeur has struggled with injuries this season but clinched the Charleston title in April.
Pressure will help me 'realise dream of entire continent', says Jabeur prior to French Open
Ons Jabeur says she will use the pressure on her to try and help "realise the dream of an entire continent" prior to her French Open bid.
The Tunisian is bidding to become the first African and Arab woman to win a major title and has been seeded seventh for the second slam of the season at Roland-Garros.
Jabeur enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2022, winning the Madrid Open before reaching the Wimbledon and US Open finals, suffering defeat in both, but overall experiencing a transformative year in her life.
“It was the kind of season I’d been waiting for for a long time,” Jabeur told The Power of Sport on Eurosport and discovery+, a programme that airs at 6pm UK time on Wednesday May 24.
“I came close to the long-held dream of winning a Grand Slam. I think my life changed beyond the tennis court, in Tunisia.
“In fact, everywhere I go people now pay more attention to me and that gives me great pleasure. I feel that this pressure, this attention around me, is a beautiful responsibility for me.
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“I’m someone who enjoys responsibility, so I see it as a positive thing to be able to possibly inspire other young people. There are many young girls starting to believe they can make it; they can play tennis and realise their dream.
“I try to be an example that, not just in tennis but in any walk of life, the girls can succeed, they just have to believe.”
Jabeur has struggled with injuries in 2023, but won the fourth WTA title of her career in Charleston in April and reached the Stuttgart semi-finals before being forced to retire against Iga Swiatek with a calf problem.
She returned to action on the clay courts of Rome at the Italian Open – her final appearance before the French Open – but was beaten in her opening match by Paula Badosa.
“This year I’ve had to cope with some injuries, so it’s not been an easy start for me,” said Jabeur.
“I’m patient, or at least I try to be, to hang in there and try to have an even better season than last year.”
She added: “[Clay] is a surface I like a lot. It gives me time to play my shots, to play my game. I love the slice, the drop shot. I know the ball stays lower when I play a slice and I’m adapting to it all the time.
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Tunisia's Ons Jabeur (R) huggs Poland's Iga Swiatek after Jabeur gave up due to an injury in the first set of their semi-final match at the Women's Tennis Grand Prix WTA tournament in Stuttgart, southwestern Germany, on April 22, 2023.
Image credit: Getty Images
“There are lots of players like Iga [Swiatek], like Aryna [Sabalenka], like [Elena] Rybakina who are playing very well on this surface, with different games, but I will do my best.”
Jabeur’s previous best run in Paris was to the fourth round in 2020 and 2021, but she suffered a shock first-round exit last year to Magda Linette.
“I will prepare for Roland-Garros this year, hoping that I will do better than in previous years,” said Jabeur.
“Obviously, the pressure is there but I will use that pressure to make sure I’m ready to realise my dream, to realise the dream of an entire people, an entire continent in fact.”
French Open qualifying started on May 22, with the main draw to begin on May 28. The tournament concludes on June 11.
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